Trolley-harp



mo; SHOWALTER. TROLLEY HARP. AP PucAnou FILED MAR. l5. 192'i";-"Fi- -1;

1,380,684, Patented June 7, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- R. C. SHOWALTER.

.TROLLEY HARP;

APPLIC 7: s,-1921.. 1,380,684. Patented June 7, 1921.

2 sH EEEEE SHEET 2.

Wires stares eras-torsion.

ROY c. SHOWALTER, or An'rooNA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR on ONE-FIFTH TO scor'r s. CRANE AND rwo-rrrrns 'ro JOHN P. REILLY, BOTH or ALTOONA,

YENNSYLVANIA.

TROLLEY-HARP.

Patented June 7, 1921.

Application filed March 15, 1921. Serial No. 452,500.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROY C. SHOWALTER, citizen of the United States, residing at A1- toona, in the county of Blair and tate of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TrolleyHarps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in trolley harps of the type shown in my former Patent No. 1,202,233 dated October 24, 1916.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide improved means for assisting in the collection of current from the trolley wlre, in the form of a novel contact spring that is capable of being attached to theharp without the use of rivets, bolts or equivalent fastenings which are objectionable because of the additional cost involved and also because of the difficulty in making quick replacements in case of need. In trolley harps used in connection with high tension supply currents, it is des rable to provide contact springs for engaging with the sides of the take-up wheel so as to prevent arcing between the sides of the wheel and the harp which would otherwise result 1f a space or gapexisted between the sides of the wheel and the'arms of theharp. The

'present invention makes. possible the quick renewal of these contact springs when repairs or replacements are needed without the aid of special tools or shop equipment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safe and reliable coupling between the harp and the pole. According to the usual construction, the harp is secured to the end of the pole by suitable fastenings,

and in order to permit the harp to adapt itself to curves in the trolley line and the generalwave movement of the trolley, it is necessary thatthe harpy'be swiveled to the pole, and unless the swivel connection is a perfect conductor, arcing might also result at this point. To eliminate this possibility, the invention aims to provide simple and adequate means for electrically connecting the harp and pole under all conditions of use.

With the above and other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed. 1

Although the invention is susceptible of changes and modifications, a preferred and practical embodiment thereof. is shown in the accompanylng drawings, in which- Flgure 1 is a side elevation of my improved harp, showing the trolley wheel,

trolley wire and pole in operative relation.

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of the socket member of, the joint used between the trolley pole and the harp.

F1g. 3 is an elevation of the coupling bolt for holding the pole to the harp.

Figs. 4, 1 and 4 are respectively plan, elevation and sectional views of the contact spring. 7

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the coupling used between the trolley pole and the harp together with the bolt used to hold the parts together.

' Fig. 6 is a plan view of the harp having the contact springs in position. i

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the parts shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

, Fig. 9 is a detail elevation of an improved electrical bond between the harp and 'pole. Similar. reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several figures of ed to receive the spring locking fingers 4 of the improved contact spring 5. As shown in Figs. 4:, 45* and 1 the said contact springs 5 are preferably provided with the relatively flat body portion 6 for flushly engaging the inner faces of the arms 1 while the offset resilient portion 7 is provided with an opening 8 for receiving the axle 9 on which the trolley wheel 10 is mounted. The holding fingers l carried by the body of the spring 6 are adapted to snap into the notches 3 when the springs are slid into position over the arms 1, and-when thus en gaged with the arms, the said springs are effectively held against longitudinal dis placement by reason of their engagement in the notches, while at the same time the portions' 4* of the fingers prevent lateral displacement.

Another feature of practical importance is the provision of an improved coupling bolt B shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. This coupling bolt serves to unite the shank 11 of the harp H with the coupling socket 12 which connects the harp to the trolley pole 13. The said coupling socket 12 is adapted to be secured to the pole 13 by means of fastenings 141 and is therefore rigidly locked therewith and the interior of the said socket is provided with the tapering seat or shoulder 15 for receiving the tapered head 16 of the shank 17 of the coupling bolt 13. WVhen the said shank 17 of the coupling bolt projects through the neck 18 of the coupling Socket and the bore 19 of the harp shank 11 to receive the spring 20 and nut 21, the said spring 20 will draw the tapered head of the bolt on to the seat of the coupling socket to thus form a good metallic contact which will insure a complete continuity of conducting surface for the current. The tapering head of the bolt B is, therefore, of practical importance since it provides a safe and positive electrical union between the relatively movable and fixed parts of the harp structure.

Another feature of the invention having in View the provision of positive electrical connectionbetween the movable part of the harp and the coupling socket which connects it to the pole, is shown in Fig. 9. As will be observed from this figure, it is proposed to provide a flexible electrical bond for connecting the relatively movable shank of the harp with the coupling socket. That is to say, it is proposed to weld, solder, clamp or otherwise affix as at 22 a suitable flexible electrical conductor 23, directly to the harp shank 11, the said oonductor23 being of sufficient length to bridge the joint between the shank of the harp and the coupling socket, and also permit the necessary movement of the harp with reference to the socket. The

free end of the conductor 23 is adapted to be secured to a suitable binding post or equivalent terminal 24 carried by the coupling socket 12'as shown. The means illustrated said seat.-

will provide a positiveelectrical bond between the harp and coupling socket which is carried by the pole, and yet at; the same time may be readily detached when the separation of the harp from the coupling socket is desired.

Without further description, it is thought that the many features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in theart, and it will, of course, be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

I claim;

1. In a trolley harp, the combination with the trolley harp arms, of contact springs having 'relatively yielding gripping fingers for engaging with opposite sides ofthe arms of the harp.

2. A trolley harp including in combination, the harp arms having notches in the opposite edge portions thereof, and contact springs having portions adapted to rest in said notches to hold the springs to the arms.

, 3; In a trolley harp, an arm for the 'harp having keeper notches in the oppositeedges thereof, and a contact spring having locking tongues at opposite sides thereof adapted to fit in said notches. y 1

4:- In a trolley harp construotiomithe combination with the harp having a shank and a socket member adapted to be fitted to the pole and having a tapering interior seat, of a coupling bolt'having a head provided with a tapered annular surface for wedglng into 5. In a trolley harp construction, the combination with the relatively movableharp and a socket member adapted to be 'secured to the trolley pole, of a flexible electrical connection between the harp and the socket.

6. In a trolley harp construction, the'combination with the relatively movable harp and a socket member adapted to be secured to the trolley pole, of a flexible electrical conductor adapted to be secured to the shank of the harp and the socket to bridge the joint therebetween and providing a positive electrical bond. 1 r

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

- ROY C. SHOWALTER. 

